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Jaguar XF Sportbrake wagon not likely headed for U.S. sale

Jaguar says the front bumper of the XF Sportbrake wagon, shown at the Geneva auto show, doesn't meet U.S. regulations.

Jaguar North America has made the strongest statement yet that the new XF Sportbrake wagon won't be heading to U.S. dealers.

"It's not homologated for the U.S.," a Jaguar North America spokesman said on Tuesday at the Geneva motor show. "That's a decision that was taken some time back when we first discussed the car. The Sportbrake at Geneva won't be coming to the U.S."

One problem area is the front bumper, which is not designed to North American standards. Neither is the diesel powertrain.

Jaguar announced only diesel rear-wheel-drive versions of the Sportbrake at Geneva, but gasoline-engine and all-wheel-drive variants are being engineered, the latter particularly aimed at snow-belt regions where Jaguar is losing sales to AWD rivals.

A 500-hp-plus XFR all-wheel-drive version is set for sale in Europe around 2013-14.

Even BMW is embracing all-wheel drive for its 5-series for similar reasons.

While Jaguar North America won't discuss its future product plans publicly, the chances of the Sportbrake making it to the United States seem pretty slim.